Wireless Android Auto Experiences?

I have been seeing more and more mentions of products, and I recently saw someone posting about the Motorola options.

Do you have any recommendations, or is there already a thread that details this that I missed in my searches?

I've heard that some are battery drains, and some are temperamental on the connection.

I have a SamsungS22 and a 2020 taco with AA that I have used since day 1 and I'm pretty happy with it. I have never used the radio or the other stuff, its just google maps and spotify for me.

Let me know what you think, I appreciate the help!

Motorolla kit:

$45 Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter - Instant Connection Using Google-Licensed Bridge Technology from Smartphone to Screen - USB Type-A Plug-in - Secure Gel Pad

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PQ95GY4

Aw9d says he has this one and it works pretty good:

CARSIFI Wireless Android Auto Adapter for All Cars and Head Units with Wired Android Auto - Wireless Car Dongle USB Plug & Play

https://www.amazon.com/CARSIFI-Wireless-Android-Adapter-Units/dp/B0BFX9KJ44

Drivelink unit that someone said worked on a 2022 highlander.

$50 DriveLink Android Auto Wireless Adapter for Car Converts Wired AA 2016+ to Wireless Android Auto Dongle for Android 11+ Phones

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5ZK4NBZ

I see the garlin kits: (garmin name ripoff?)

Wireless Android Auto Adapter,2024 Android Auto Wireless Dongle, A2A, Plug & Play, Easy Set Up, Only for Factory Wired AA Cars and Android Phones,Support OTA Upgrade

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Android-Adapter-Direct-Factory/dp/B0BGL6HC74

2023 CarlinKit A2A Android Auto Wireless Adapter for OEM Wired Android Auto Cars from 2016, Plug & Play,

https://www.amazon.com/CarlinKit-A2A-Android-Auto-Wireless/dp/B0BDRTWMZ5

 

I have the Motorola one and another called carsifi.

The carsifi one work's better but really both are pretty good.

 

Do you have issues with it disconnecting or draining your phone batteries?

 

I have a Pixel 3 and it never connected wired, so I had to buy the Motorola dongle. I like it a lot given the alternative is not having Android Auto. So I can't say how it compares to wired.

I had some connection issues at the VERY beginning, just trying to get it to connect. I found that the solution for me was having it plugged in before I start the truck and letting the phone connect right away. Then just leave it alone. It doesn't tolerate hot-swapping. If I have an iOS device plugged in and then want to swap in the dongle mid-drive that's a no-go. Other than those caveats it's been rock solid.

No battery issues but I also have an older phone, so it doesn't have the best battery life to begin with. The phone doesn't get hot or anything like that.

I know when I bought it, Amazon had none in stock and I found a good deal at Best Buy for less than the amazon price anyway.

 

I have the Carsifi wireless Android auto adapter.
I really like it. It worked well with my oneplus 7pro works fine with my Galaxy A53 too.

I ordered it originally from Kickstart on November 2021 didn't get it until April 2022. It was supposed to be delivered in February 2020.
I really like it and now that I have it I've canceled all the paid music services including XM.
I rarely use the FM radio no. It connects up in around a minute or less. Not plugging in is really convenient for shorter trips.

I mostly use Google maps and use Plexamp to stream my music collection from my plex server at home

 

I purchased the Motorola unit off Amazon as I had a credit. It works pretty good after only a couple days.

I think the next mod will be to remove the USB plug from the center console and route it to the glove box so I don't have this thing dangling all the time.

 

Does that run off your existing PLEX server, or is it a different unit. I have never even attempted to set it up.

 

I have AA wireless and a Pixel 5. Yes, it does drain the battery, and it can get warm (the phone). I dont plug mine in if I am driving to/from work, as its not really necessary (45 minutes each way). I have no issues with it losing connectivity. Sometimes, it takes a little longer to connect though.

 

I have the Motorola unit and like it.

Generally short-ish drives (~30min) for me and no issues, on the one longer (4hr) drive I recently took it did disconnect twice. I can't say if that is normal or not.

 

I have the motorola unit since October 2022. Never had any issues with it disconnecting. I will say that android auto wired or wireless does have the random hiccups when playing music where it'll pause for a millisecond so that doesn't going away once you have the wireless. After looking through forums and android auto issues.. appears to be an android auto thing?

Anyhow I velcroed the back and just stick the unit right above the charging pad so it's not dangling in the way. I don't notice any huge battery drain when using it. I can put my phone on the wireless charger and it'll slowly still charge. I have Galaxy fold 4 as reference.

Obviously only downside is that if you ever switch to apple, you're outa luck with the motorola one.

 

I have the

$45 Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter - Instant Connection Using Google-Licensed Bridge Technology from Smartphone to Screen - USB Type-A Plug-in - Secure Gel Pad

Motorola MA1 It works flawlessly for me. It always connects and is seemless.

 

An alternative over the MA1 is the AAWireless. Over MA1, you has more flexibility on how it handles Wireless AA, like force certain screen dpi to get the ultra widescreen UI.

$60 AAWireless - Wireless Android Auto Dongle - Connects Automatically to Android Auto - Easy Plug and Play Setup - Free Companion App - Made in Europe

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B71XC7VG

I remember following it a while back when it was a Kickstarter. It also has a pretty sizable community on Reddit.

 

Yeah it's pulling music off my plex server at home. I have a lot of mp3 files, ripped cd, dvds, and even recorded TV on it. We used plex at home as an OTA dvr.
I've never tried to play video on the radio screen. I mostly use the plexamp app which requires a plex pass subscription to get access to. Of course I got a lifetime plex pass way Back in 2018 for like $90. It's well paid for itself. It's what I use to most to watch TV and listen to music.
Here are a few screen shots of what the app looks like on phone and the truck. [/QUOTE]

 

I have this one....

$60 AAWireless - Wireless Android Auto Dongle - Connects Automatically to Android Auto - Easy Plug and Play Setup - Free Companion App - Made in Europe

https://www.amazon.com/AAWireless-2...mzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

Haven't noticed any crazy battery drain. Takes about 30 seconds or less to start up and works great.

I do have one question. Maybe others are facing this, even when I just plugged my phone in my screen just lights up at random times and stays lit up. Anyone have this issue and know how to fix it?

 

I sold my Taco, and have an19' Ram. It has AA, but requires being plugged in to work. I got annoyed and bought the Motorola dongle.
Was a tad hard to get hooked up but works great. It's connected within 30 seconds of starting the truck, and no battery drain other then what would happen if playing music and using waze on just the phone.

 

I have the carlinkit one for sale

 

I'm looking at the CarlinKit 4.0 for android auto and Carplay for the wife's phone.

 

I have the MA1.

It disconnects at certain spots. Otherwise it works fine.